Tshabangu Orohwa ButsuThe troubled and fractured Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), now led by Welshman Ncube, has expelled its self-imposed secretary-general, Sengezo Tshabangu, marking another chapter in the party’s prolonged internal strife.
Ncube announced Tshabangu’s expulsion after he was found guilty of various charges, including undermining party leadership and unilaterally making decisions without proper authority. The move is the culmination of a long-standing feud between the two, which has played out both in the courts and in the political arena.
Tshabangu has long been a divisive figure in opposition politics.
Initially, he was instrumental in efforts by Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti to frustrate Nelson Chamisa’s leadership after the 2018 elections, contributing to the fragmentation of the opposition.
More recently, he has been accused of working with Zanu PF to dismantle the original CCC through mass recalls of elected representatives, a move widely seen as an attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of future elections.
Last week, Tshabangu appeared before aResponding to the expulsion, Tshabangu’s spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo, dismissed Ncube’s move as baseless and procedurally flawed.
“This is a rather strange process,” Mlilo said. “Any disciplinary hearing, in circumstances where a charged party is found guilty, must follow due process. The disciplinary committee must render a reasoned judgment based on facts and legal principles. The accused must also be given an opportunity to make submissions in mitigation, while the prosecution presents aggravating factors before sentencing.”
He scoffed at Madzimure’s statement, calling it “not worth a yawn.”
“Senator Tshabangu has better things to do with his time than to play marbles with argumentative busybodies,” Mlilo said.
Tshabangu’s expulsion is unlikely to bring stability to the already fractured CCC, which remains deeply divided over leadership, strategy, and its future direction.
With both factions accusing each other of betrayal, the opposition movement risks further fragmentation, playing directly into the hands of Zanu PF.
